Common Room

[Max Randolf]

Max walked into the common room, and felt even more at home. He shook his head when he saw Caeleb, and walked over to him, dropping into another chair. "So, I hear I missed quite a bit while I was gone," he said, shaking his head again, almost in disgust. Ugh. Dara and Caeleb. Damn my overimaginative mind! Damn it to the deepest depths of Hades!

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb dropped his paper and looked up with a grin.
"Mate, you have no idea." he replied. He sat up straight and regarded his old friend. "Although from the look on your face I'd say Anastacia filled you in on most of it." he added. Max look disgusted with him. He held up his hands in defense.
"Listen mate, I had nothing to do with your Dad and Kildara breaking up. They did that all by themselves." he explained. "Just so you know." he added before leanig back against the back of the sofa again.
"So...what have you been upto?"

[Max Randolf]

"Yeah. Annie was kind enough to fill me in. That girl has a mouth on her. Gives good lectures. Cute kid though," Max said, shrugging his shoulders.
Max sighed. "Mate, seriously, I don't actually care. Just having really bad mental images at the moment." He shuddered for effect. "What have I been up to? Slaving around for my dad. He's real boring now. Not that he's ever been exciting. But he's mopey. Bit annoying actually," he mused, shrugging again. "Hanging out with some of dad's old mates. Not the best influences, I'll admit. But, they're funner than Dad. Did a bit of travelling around places. You know. The usual," he said casually, chuckling softly, eaning back against the arm of the chair he'd occupied. "Apart from your rendevous with Dara, what you been up to? Been forgiven for your little mishap?"

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb laughed haughtily, his deep voice booming around the room a little. He was glad to see his friend. He hadn't been able to speak to anyone on the same level as him in a long time. It was nice not having to put of a front with him.
"Sounds boring as f**k mate" he commented dryly.
"Mishap? Hmmm, well I'm not exactly top of Krysta's Christmas list but there haven't been any repercussions. Having Dara as Headmistress helps, obviously. I don't think anyone else would have let me back in the school." he mused. He studied Max for a few moments. Max was the only person he ever used to confide in about anything.
"Something Anastasia wouldn't have known to tell you...Krysta came of age over the holiday." he said sternly.

[Max Randolf]

"Oh believe me, it was," Max said, joining in on Caeleb's laugh. It was good to see Caeleb again. Even with how much James hated his friend at the moment.
"Yeah. If I was Headmaster, I wouldn't let you back in either!" he laughed. "Tell me. What's this thing with Dara like? Is it like one of her passing fancies? Or does she actually mean it this time?" He didn't know how she could possibly mean it with her 17 year old student. But, this was Dara they were talking about.
His eyes widened a little as Caeleb continued. "Ah. Watch your back mate. She might pummel you to dust," he joked. He knew how serious it was, but he wouldn't be Max if he didn't make a joke out of it.

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb snorted
"Yeah, f**k you, mate." he laughed when Max said he woudn't have let him back into the school either. It was good to have someone to laugh with again. Someone who understood him. When he asked about Dara, though Caeleb rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged.
"Man, I don't know. She says she loves me..." he trailed off. Caeleb was not an idiot. Dara had told other people she'd loved them too. He knew Dara pretty well. It wasn't that Dara didn't love people, it was just that she got bored easily. "She means it...for now at least." he concluded. "As for me, I'm f**king crazy about her. I'm no fool, Max. I know what I'm getting into. And to be honest I don't care. If she loves me even for a little while...that'll do me for life." he explained. He shrugged again.

"As for that little bi*ch Hedwig, she's doing a good job of staying out of my way. I don't think I have anything to worry about. Not unless I give her a reason. I think I'm the least of her worries at the moment. Though I just saw her a few minutes ago...looks like something dragged her through a cheese-grater." he said with a satisfied smirk.

[Max Randolf]

Max laughed as Caeleb swore at him. "Yeah. f**k you too mate," he said, still chuckling.
He watched his friend as he spoke about Dara. "Wow. You seem real hung up on her. Man, you're whipped. Seriously. Like, whipped cream. As long as you know what Dara's like. You seriously love her mate? Like as in, she could be the one sort of love? Or, she's f**king hot sort of love?" he asked, rather seriously. "Yes, I know I'm talking about my former Step-Mother-to-be. She is hot though. For a teacher."
Max nodded his head, a slight smirk on his face. "Hmm. Should have finished her off," he said with a shrug. Then he remembered something Annie had told him. "I heard Danika and Kelly broke up. That true?" he asked, hoping the hope in his voice wasn't noticable.

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb clapped his hands together and wrung them with a rather macho smirk on his face.
"All of the above, mate, all of the above. I'm not saying 'the one' coz I honestly don't belive in that soul mate s**t, but if I did it'd be her. For me anyway. Who knows how she feels? I'm just taking it one day at a time and tryin not to think too much about it. Just enjoying it whilst I have it, y'know." he said, trying to be realistic.

He sniggered at Max's comment about Krysta.
"Maybe I should have, man. Probably save us a lot of trouble in the future." he agreed. He knew it was all bravado. As angry as he had been with Krysta, he couldn't have killed her. He had once cared very much for her, which is partly why he hated her so much now. He couldn't explain it, but somehow he liked having her around even if it was just so he could torment her.

His face cracked into an amused grin when Max asked about Kelly and Danika.
"Look at you, you're like the cat who got the cream. Yeah it's true and you can stop pretending you aren't as smug as a turkey on Boxing Day." he laughed, teasing his friend relentlessly. "Now that's one little bi*ch I should have done in when I had the chance. Kelly Black is asking for an AK to chest and I'm not joking. You should see her, man. She's turned into a right little psycho. Hasn't got a friend left in the world either, even Hedwig won't have anything to do with her and you know what a compulsive good-guy she is. It's like killing the baby was the snapping point. Totally on the darkside, mate. Swans around here like she's the Wicked Witch of the West's nastier sister." he told him, his voice full of venom and vehemence.

[Max Randolf]

Max watched his friend, a massive grin on his face. "Well mate. Congrats I suppose. At least one of us managed to find it!" he said, chuckling softly. "There's got to be someone she talks to. Even the great Kildara Snape needs a confidant. Maybe Danika knows? I'm going to ask her!"

Max shrugged his shoulders. "Eh. Told her it wouldn't work. Kelly and Danika are cut from completely different cloths. Never would have seen it coming, let alone lasting. Kinda funny actually." He listened to Caeleb, nodding. "f**k. Really. So, Annie was telling the truth then. Kelly did kill the baby. That chick needs to be shot."

[Caeleb Dracus]

"Hah! Good luck. Danika hates my guts. Me and Dara thoroughly disgust her, which I naturally find amusing." he smirked again.
"And shooting is way too quick. Her death needs to be long and extremely painful. She needs bringing down a peg or two. She thinks she's untouchable, it's excruciating to watch."

He leant back and crossed his right ankle over his left knee. "So what else have you missed? I'll tell you the intrigue in this place is off the f**king chart. Everyone's scr*wing everyone else, it's disgusting." he said trying to sound disapproving.

[Max Randolf]

"Ugh. Well, that's thoroughly unhelpful," Max said, huffily. "I'll find out a way to find out who Dara talks to. I want to know! You've got me all interested now. I want to know how she feels about you. Although. Maybe I don't..." his voice trailed off, scrunching up his face in disgust.

"You looked like you don't approve. Aren't you one of those people screwing everyone? Or have you given up on other people? Dara more than enough for you?" he teased. He sighed again. "Well, seemed like nothing's really changed then. What's this about all the engagements and pregnancies. Bloody hell. What the f**k's going on?!"

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb shook his head and laughed again. He hadn't laughed like this in months. Not since the last time he'd seen Max actually.
"Mate this place has been so boring without you." he chuckled. "Everyone's just so...eugh. I did kinda hook up with a girl before Christmas, but it was oneoff thing. She went back to her boyfriend. Nice girl, though. To be honest, and I know this sounds disgusting, but since Dara I'm just not interested. It's like no one can compare, so what's the point? I never f**king thought a woman could leave me like that. It was always just...you know...a laugh, a game." he trailed off shaking his head. "F**k!" he wailed, burying his head in his hands.

[Max Randolf]

"That's because I'm the life of the party!" Max said, a smug look on his face. He shrugged his shoulders, listening to his friend go on about Dara. When Caeleb swore and put his hands up to his face, Max scoffed. "Man. You.Are.Whipped. f**king whipped cream. For Kildara Snape no less. Least you got taste. So, you don't have to answer this if you don't want, she's good then. I'm presuming you have actually had her," he asked, raising an eyebrow. Knowing Caeleb, they had, more than once. But, this didn't seem like the same Caeleb in this regard.

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb made a rude hand gesture at Max in response to the "whipped cream" comment.
"Better whipped cream than sour single cream, mate." he retorted. He shook his head slowly as Max asked about whether he'd slept with Dara or not.
"Max, seriously, if you were seeing Kildara Snape of all people...would you kiss and tell? Think about it. I'm saying nothing." he replied firmly with a raised eyebrow.
"What about you anyway? You and Anastasia seemed to be nice and cosy earlier." he prompted with a sly grin.

[Max Randolf]

Max laughed. "Nothing sour about this cream mate!" he chuckled. Max shook his head as well as Caeleb said wouldn't tell. "Hmm. Spose not," he mused, shrugging his shoulders. He tilted his head to the side, scrunching up his nose a little when Caeleb mentioned Anastasia. "Man. I don't know. Me and Annie are friends. And we haven't seen each other since last year. Aren't I allowed to get cosy with someone without wanting to shag them?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Damn this new found maturity!